Canada's Justice Department Moves to Withhold 'Sensitive' Information from Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar Murder Trial
New Delhi, February 20 (Manpreet Singh Khalsa):- Canada's Justice Department is fighting to prevent the release of "sensitive" national security information from the 2023 murder trial of four Indian men accused of shooting dead Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a BC Sikh leader. In an application to the Canadian Federal Court, lawyers representing the Attorney General of Canada sought permission to withhold certain evidence in the trial of Hardeep Singh Nijjar's alleged killers. Court documents released to a Canadian media outlet did not specify which details they wanted to keep secret, but they argued that releasing them would be detrimental to international relations and national security. Notably, the case against Bhai Nijjar's suspected killers is being closely watched as there are allegations that the Indian government ordered the killing as part of a campaign to silence its political opponents abroad. The claims were first made public by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023, leading to a diplomatic rift between Canada and India. Ottawa subsequently expelled Indian diplomats and consular officials from the country, while since taking office, Prime Minister Mark Carney has resumed talks with India and sought to enhance trade ties. Gurdwara Sahib Secretary Bhai Gurmeet Singh Toor and member Bhai Narinder Singh Randhawa have called it a betrayal, as they are allegedly being targeted by India. They said withholding evidence regarding India's alleged role in the murder "would amount to a denial of justice," especially since New Delhi continues to deny involvement. Any attempt by Canadian authorities to conceal or modify evidence will serve to justify India's position and encourage further acts of intimidation and violence." Justice cannot be compromised and cannot be suppressed in the name of international relations or diplomacy. On the one hand, it is not unusual for federal prosecutors to ask a judge to allow them to refrain from disclosing national security information in trials. Often, this is when the information in question was provided by a foreign agency.
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